Early Passion for Technology

From a young age, I was fascinated with technology, particularly mobile phones. After completing my higher secondary education in 2005, I enrolled in a six-month course at one of the big city's institutes to learn mobile phone repair.

My passion and dedication quickly set me apart. I excelled in assignments and often helped classmates with theirs. Recognizing my potential, the institute's owner offered me an unpaid apprenticeship at his repair shop — a rare opportunity since most students paid for the chance to work there.

I worked there for two years without pay, absorbing everything I could about the trade. After gaining experience, I opened my first small repair business in my village. Within six months, it was thriving. However, my ambitions pushed me beyond my hometown, and in 2008 I migrated to Australia in search of greater opportunities.

Starting From Scratch in Australia

When I arrived in Australia, I quickly realized the road ahead would not be easy. Many people told me that my skills were useless there because phones were mostly sold on contracts and broken devices were usually replaced rather than repaired.

My limited English made things even harder, but I refused to give up on my passion. I eventually found a job at a repair shop. The working conditions were difficult: two weeks of unpaid training followed by very low wages and uncertain payment.

There were days when I couldn't even afford train fare to attend my classes. I remember asking the shop staff for $10 just to buy a train ticket and sometimes waiting for the first sale of the day to get the money.

A Breakthrough

After six months, I found another opportunity at a repair shop in Blacktown. Communication was difficult because of my English, but the owner saw my skills and gave me a chance.

I still remember my first shift — a Thursday night. After three hours of work, I was paid $50. Compared to what I had been earning, it felt like a fortune.

For the next two years I worked tirelessly. Even after the shop closed at 5 PM, I stayed late to practice and refine my skills.

Taking a Leap of Faith

After three years at the shop, I felt a strong urge to build something of my own. I left my job and started working from home, taking small repair jobs from other shops and offering services like motherboard repairs and phone unlocks.

One weekend in early 2012 while delivering repaired phones to a market, I noticed the busy environment and wondered if I could start a stall there.

At Parklea Markets, I learned that renting a stall for the weekend would cost $282. I had just enough money for one week. With no clear plan, I decided to take the risk.

A Helping Hand

My uncle, Paramjit Thiara, who I was living with as a paying guest, supported my decision. He gave me an old broken cupboard which we converted into a makeshift workbench.

Around the same time, my close friend Gagan Jhutty offered financial and moral support. We initially started the venture as partners, but later he stepped away from the partnership so I could have full ownership of the business.

His generosity and trust gave me the confidence to continue building my dream.

Building My Dream

After one week of preparation, I set up my stall at Parklea Markets with a simple setup: a plastic chair, a laptop, spare parts, and a small sign that read “Yes, we do repairs.”

That day exceeded my expectations. I repaired phones, sold accessories, and earned enough to cover the rent for the following week.

Sitting there that Sunday, I felt immense pride. It was the moment my dream of starting my own business in Australia truly began.

From Market Stall to a Full Shop

By 2013, the stall was thriving. I upgraded the setup with a professional counter, better displays, and eventually expanded into a double stall.

Despite the growth, I wanted to expand further. Since weekends were busy but weekdays were quiet, I decided to open a permanent shop.

With savings of about $10,000, I found a shop in St Marys. However, after paying deposits and rent, I had almost no money left to set up the store.

Friends helped me again, and we built the shop ourselves using second-hand counters and materials from Gumtree. Those fittings are still in use today.

Balancing Dreams and Determination

At the same time, I was working toward permanent residency in Australia. To qualify, I needed an IELTS score of 7 in each module.

My English level was only 5.5, and I had to balance studies with running the business. I took the exam 43 times before finally achieving the required score after 18 months of relentless effort.

During this time, my friend Robin managed the shop while I focused on improving my English.

Scaling the Business

After gaining residency, I focused fully on expanding the business. Both the St Marys shop and the Parklea Markets stall continued to grow.

In 2015, Rakesh Vaghela joined the team and became an integral part of the business. Together we expanded services and started offering advanced motherboard repairs.

We also launched a YouTube channel to showcase our expertise and connect with more customers and repair shops.

Recognizing the Need for Training

Over time I noticed many technicians damaging customer devices due to lack of proper skills. Instead of fixing their mistakes, I wanted to teach them the right way to perform repairs.

Around 2018–2019 I began preparing training programs, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed these plans.

A New Chapter

Despite the pandemic, business demand increased. We became an authorized Samsung Service Centre and decided to focus completely on our St Marys location after selling the Parklea Markets stall.

This allowed us to improve operations and handle the growing demand for repairs and services.

Expanding Horizons

With a strong team in place, we expanded further by launching TechCity stores in Schofields, Box Hill, and Kellyville.

These locations were designed to provide modern environments and consistent high-quality service across all branches.

Innovation in Screen Refurbishing

To address the lack of transparency in screen buyback programs, we introduced our own screen refurbishing service.

We invested in advanced machines and created a fair pricing system with clear grading and photo documentation for every screen.

The response from customers and businesses was overwhelming, and the service quickly became one of the most sought-after offerings in the industry.

The Vision Behind PRC

My goal has always been to provide high-quality repairs at affordable prices while maintaining professionalism and trust.

This vision led to the creation of PRC — a one-stop solution for consumers, wholesalers, retailers, and repair businesses.

Empowering the Next Generation

PRC is not only about services. It is also about education and empowering aspiring technicians with the skills needed to succeed in the repair industry.

Through training programs, workshops, and knowledge sharing, the mission is to raise industry standards and help others build meaningful careers.

PRC: A Passion Project

PRC represents years of dedication, perseverance, and passion. It is more than a business — it is a commitment to improving the repair industry and giving back to the community that made the journey possible.